Ice hole flarer

ABSTRACT

A tool for flaring the lower surface of an ice hole is provided wherein a first tubular member has a plurality of brackets spaced about a lower outer circumference thereof from which are pivotally suspended elongated blade members. A second tube member extends slidably over the lower end of said first tube with the upper portions of said second tubular member forming a camming surface for flaring said blade members outwardly from the first tubular member. The position of said second tubular member along the length of the first tubular member and accordingly the extent of flare of the blade members is determined by a shaft which extends through said first tubular member and is joined to said second tubular member.

United States Patent 1 Andeen 1 July 31, 1973 Primary Examiner David H. Brown Attorney- Everett J. Schroeder, Robert 0. Vrdas et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A tool for flaring the lower surface of an ice hole is provided wherein a first tubular member has a plurality of brackets spaced about a lower outer circumference thereof from which are pivotaily suspended elongated blade members. A second tube member extends slidably over the lower end of said first tube with the upper portions of said second tubular member forming a camming surface for flaring said blade members outwardly from the first tubular member. The position of said second tubular member along the length of the first tubular member and accordingly the extent of flare of the blade members is determined by a shaft which extends through said first tubular member and is joined to said second tubular member.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures ICE HOLE FLARER The present invention is directed to the art of ice fishing and is more specifically directed to a tool for use in flaring the lower portions of a hole cut through the ice. As is well known in the art of ice fishing a straight cylindrical hole extending through the ice tends to pose problems to the ice fisherman in that when fish are caught the line must in many instances be drawn in by the ice fisherman so that a right angle turn must be negotiated by the fish as it is pulled from the water out onto the surface of the ice. This places extremely heavy loading on the line and is apt to dislodge the fish from the hook.

I am aware that various types of tools have been proposed in the past for use in providing a flared lower surface for the hole used in ice fishing. However, in accordance with my invention a greatly simplified, yet rugged, construction is provided over the type of units that have been proposed in the past. The simplicity and ruggedness of the unit results in an improved tool essentially free from breakage during its normal intended use and is yet of a simple enough construction as to be low in cost.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an ice flaring tool in accordance with my invention in position with the cutting edges beneath a hole in the ice;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along lines 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the ice flaring tool of my invention with the blades in the closed position and further showing an ice auger mounted to the lower portion thereof; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of asingle blade for use in the flarer.

Referring first to FIG. 1 there is illustrated in cross sectional view a tool generally designated 10, the cutting portion of which is positioned beneath a layer of ice 1]. Tool includes an outer tubular member 12 which is desirably of cylindrical cross section and which is shown as being open at opposite ends thereof. At the upper portion of tube 12 there is positioned the handle members 13 which may be simple rod members which are welded to tube 12 as shown in FIG. 3. At the outer extremities of handles 13 there is provided a rubber-like gripping member 14. Handle 13 is utilized to provide a rotary motion to the assembly to accomplish the cutting purposes of my invention.

Adjacent a lower portion of tube 12 are a plurality of brackets 15 which are attached as by welding to the outer surface of tube 12. Brackets 15 are circumferentially arranged around tube 12 in alignment with one another. As can be seen best in FIG. 2 the preferred form of my invention makes use of three brackets spaced 120 apart. Pivotally suspended from brackets 15 by means such as pins 16 are blade members 17. Blade members 17 have a generally rectangular configuration with an outer surface 18 having a beveled edge shape to form a cutting edge. The inner longitudinal side 19 of blade 17 forms a cam engaging surface as will be described more completely hereinbelow. As can be seen in FIG. 3 the blades under normal conditions when the tool is in the vertical position will be suspended so that surface 19 is substantially parallel to the axis oftube 12 with the pivoting axis of the blade generally perpendicular to tube 12. As an aid to the cam ming action, which will now be described, the lowermost portion of blade 17 remote from the pivotal end is curve-shaped to aid in the start of the camming action.

In telescoping arrangement with the lower end of tube 12 is a tube 20 which has an internal diameter sufficient to enable it to slidably pass over the lower end of tube 12. The upper portion oftube 20 has been provided with a lip member 21 which acts as a cam to pivot blades 17 outwardly from the tube 12 so as to provide a flared configuration as is illustrated in FIG. 1. Tube 20 is illustrated in FIG. 1 as having a cup configuration and has an internal wall 22 transverse to the longitudinal axis. Joined to this wall 22 is a rod member 23 which slidably passes through the bore of tube 12. In the drawings member 23 is illustrated as being a solid rod although it is preferred to form member 23 of a tube so as to minimize its weight. Member 23 is joined as by welding to wall portion 22 so that movement of member 23 along the longitudinal axis of tube 12 will cooperatively move tube 20 in its camming relationship to the blade members 17.

At the portion of tube 23 that extends outwardly beyond handles 13 and tube 12, I have provided a plurality of holes 24 extending therethrough. A pin member 25 can be utilized to fixedly position tube 23 from sliding downwardly through tube 12.

At the uppermost portion'of tube 23. there is provided a ring member 26 and a set screw 27 for fixing ring 26 relative to tube 23. Member 26 prevents tube 23 and its attached assembly from disengaging from tube 12 during normal use. It is removably positioned on tube 23 so that the entire assembly may be taken apart for cleaning and the like when necessary.

Tube 20 is provided with a set screw member 28 which is utilized to fixedly position tube 20 with regard to tube 12 during transportation of the assembly. That is, during normal transportation it will be desirable to have blade members 17 withdrawn so as to be along the sides of tube 12 as illustrated in FIG. 3. During the cutting action when the hole in the ice is to be flared at the lower surface thereof pin member 25 is positioned through the appropriate hole in rod 23 to provide the flaring of blades 17 and hold them in such a flared angle.

At various positions along the assembly I have provided holes 29 in the wall portions thereof so as to permit ready drainage of water which gets into the assembly during the flaring operation. As the tool will most likely be utilized when temperatures are well below the freezing point of water it is necessary to have a means for rapid drainage to prevent the build-up of ice within the tube walls thus locking the members together. Of course, should the unit become iced up immersion in the water beneath the ice will tend to thaw the ice. However, it is desirable to minimize the amount of ice that may be formed within the tool.

At the lower portion of tube 20, I provide a necked down portion 30 which terminates in a threaded opening 31. As is illustrated in FIG. 3 opening 31 may be utilized to hold an ice cutting tool 32 of a conventional spoon type for drilling the initial cylindrical hole through the surface of the ice. It is desirable to have ice hole drilling tool 32 removable from the overall assembly after completion of the initial drilling operation as it merely adds unnecessary weight for the subsequent flaring of the lower side of the hole produced by ice tool spoon 32. A set screw 33 may be provided to insure that cutting tool 32 does not become accidentally disengaged during use.

The operation of my invention should now be apparent. Initially one may utilize this entire assembly including cutting spoon 32 to drill a hole through a layer of ice. Once the initial hole is drilled through the ice, tube 23 is pulled upwardly through tube 12 to provide the beginning of a flaring of cutting tools 17 by action of lip 21 as a cam against the interior surface 19 of the blade members. Rotation of the assembly by means of handles 13 will cut the sharp edge of the cylindrical hole to produce the flared region 34 illustrated in FIG. 1. By positioning tube 23 at a variety of different positions one can accomplish flaring of the hole for the purposes outlined above.

I have found that marked improvement in the cutting action of the blades is achieved when the mounting brackets and consequently blades 17 in the rest position are angulated approximately 10 from the longitudinal axis of tube 12 as is shown in the several views. That is, the outer end of blades 17 trail the pivotal end by approximately 10 when the tool is in the position illustrated in FIG. 3.

Various modifications can be made to increase the versatility of the tool of my invention. For example, when extremely thick ice is to be flared a longer spacing between handle 13 and blades 17 is desirable for convenience of the user. This may be readily accomplished in accordance with the construction of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1 tube 12 terminates at its upper end in a threaded portion. Handles 13 are joined to an interiorly threaded tube 35 which engages the threaded portion of tube 12. The length of the assembly consisting of tube 12 and pipe 35 may be increased by use of an intermediate pipe coupling assembly of the desired length threadably arranged to be inserted into pipe 35 at one end thereof and around pipe 12 at the other end. Rod 24 may be similarly lengthened by use of a threaded member adapted to be joined thereto intermediate the ends thereof.

I claim:

I. An ice hole flaring tool comprising:

a. a first elongated tubular member open at the lower end thereof;

b. a plurality of bracket members joined adjacent to a lower end outer surface of said first member and spaced about the circumference thereof;

0. elongated blade members pivotally suspended at one end thereof from said bracket members and when in a closed position having the inner edge portion of said blade members adjacent to said first member, the outer edge portion of said blade member defining a cutting edge, said inner edge of said blade members forming a cam engaging surface;

d. a second tubular member slidably extending over the lower portion of said first tubular member, an upper portion of said second tubular member defining a camming element for engaging the inner surfaces of said blade members and pivoting the blade members into a flared position;

. cam position adjusting means slidably extending longitudinally within said first tubular member and joined to said second tubular member for positioning the cam element thereof with respect to said blade members; and

f. means joined to said tool adjacent the upper portions thereof for rotating the first tubular member and blade members within an ice hole to flare the lower surface thereof.

2. The tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein the bracket members are canted relative to the longitudinal axis of said first tubular member so that said blade members have a positive pitch in the open position to assist in cutting.

3. The tool in accordance with claim I wherein said cam position adjusting means is a rod member slidably extending through said first tubular member and includes means joined to said rod member at the portion thereof extending upwardly beyond said first tubular member to prevent said rod member from passing through said first tubular member.

4. The tool in accordance with claim 3 wherein variably positionable stop means are provided on the portion of said rod member which extends beyond the upper end of said first tubular member whereby the extent of flare of said blade members is determined.

5. A tool in accordance with claim I wherein the upper portion of said second tubular member has an outwardly extending lip portion defining said cam element.

6. A tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second tubular member has an opening at the lower end thereof constructed and arranged to removably mount an ice auger therein.

7. A tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein openings are provided in the walls of said tube members to facilitate drainage of water therefrom.

8. An ice hole flaring tool comprising:

a. a first elongated tubular member open at the lower end thereof;

b. a plurality of bracket members joined adjacent to a lower end outer surface of said first member and spaced about the circumference thereof;

c. elongated blade members pivotally suspended at one end thereof from said bracket members and when in a closed position having the inner edge portion of said blade members adjacent to said first member, the outer edge portion of said blade members defining a cutting edge, said inner edge of said blade members forming a cam engaging surface;

11. a second tubular member slidably extending over the lower portion of said first tubular member, a camming element carried by said second tubular member adjacent the upper end thereof, said camming element adapted to engage the inner surfaces of said blade members to pivot the blade members into a flared position;

e. cam position adjusting means slidably extending longitudinally within said first tubular member and joined to said second tubular member for positioning the cam element thereof with respect to said blade members; and means joined to said tool adjacent the upper portions thereof for rotating the first tubular member and blade members within an ice hole to flare the lower surface thereof.

9. A tool in accordance with claim 2 wherein the bracket members are canted at about 10 and the blade members are mounted to have the ends remote from the pivotal ends thereof trail the end adjacent the bracket members.

K II l Il 

1. An ice hole flaring tool comprising: a. a first elongated tubular member open at the lower end thereof; b. a plurality of bracket members joined adjacent to a lower end outer surface of said first member and spaced about the circumference thereof; c. elongated blade members pivotally suspended at one end thereof from said bracket members and when in a closed position having the inner edge portion of said blade members adjacent to said first member, the outer edge portion of said blade member defining a cutting edge, said inner edge of said blade members forming a cam engaging surface; d. a second tubular member slidably extending over the lower portion of said first tubular member, an upper portion of said second tubular member defining a camming element for engaging the inner surfaces of said blade members and pivoting the blade members into a flared position; e. cam position adjusting means slidably extending longitudinally within said first tubular member and joined to said second tubular member for positioning the cam element thereof with respect to said blade members; and f. means joined to said tool adjacent the upper portions thereof for rotating the first tubular member and blade members within an ice hole to flare the lower surface thereof.
 2. The tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein the bracket members are canted relative to the longitudinal axis of said first tubular member so that said blade members have a positive pitch in the open position to assist in cutting.
 3. The tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cam position adjusting means is a rod member slidably extending through said first tubular member and includes means joined to said rod member at the portion thereof extending upwardly beyond said first tubular member to prevent said rod member from passing through said first tubular member.
 4. The tool in accordance with claim 3 wheRein variably positionable stop means are provided on the portion of said rod member which extends beyond the upper end of said first tubular member whereby the extent of flare of said blade members is determined.
 5. A tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein the upper portion of said second tubular member has an outwardly extending lip portion defining said cam element.
 6. A tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second tubular member has an opening at the lower end thereof constructed and arranged to removably mount an ice auger therein.
 7. A tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein openings are provided in the walls of said tube members to facilitate drainage of water therefrom.
 8. An ice hole flaring tool comprising: a. a first elongated tubular member open at the lower end thereof; b. a plurality of bracket members joined adjacent to a lower end outer surface of said first member and spaced about the circumference thereof; c. elongated blade members pivotally suspended at one end thereof from said bracket members and when in a closed position having the inner edge portion of said blade members adjacent to said first member, the outer edge portion of said blade members defining a cutting edge, said inner edge of said blade members forming a cam engaging surface; d. a second tubular member slidably extending over the lower portion of said first tubular member, a camming element carried by said second tubular member adjacent the upper end thereof, said camming element adapted to engage the inner surfaces of said blade members to pivot the blade members into a flared position; e. cam position adjusting means slidably extending longitudinally within said first tubular member and joined to said second tubular member for positioning the cam element thereof with respect to said blade members; and f. means joined to said tool adjacent the upper portions thereof for rotating the first tubular member and blade members within an ice hole to flare the lower surface thereof.
 9. A tool in accordance with claim 2 wherein the bracket members are canted at about 10* and the blade members are mounted to have the ends remote from the pivotal ends thereof trail the end adjacent the bracket members. 